Diplomat will not bow to militants

HIS homeland has unfairly become the target of Muslim extremism in recent days, but US Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich is confident he will remain safe in Sydney.

In the wake of violence against US consulates in the Middle East, Mr Bleich has faced calls from extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir in Australia to leave the country.

But the Ambassador yesterday used his address to the Asia Pacific FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) conference to thank NSW and Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers for protecting American diplomatic staff during the clashes in Sydney's CBD on Saturday and to reassure everyone - including his own family - he is not in harm's way.

With Islamic groups fanning anti-American sentiment across Western nations, Mr Bleich insisted he was untroubled about his personal safety because he could rely on the AFP and state police forces to protect him and his staff.

"I'm not in fear of my safety because I have great confidence in the law-enforcement personnel that we have here," he said.

"We also have a well-developed plan in order for protecting our consulates and our mission. So it's business as usual and that's what people expect from us."

Mr Bleich admitted some of his family wanted him to head home to the US.

"I've got family members who want me to be (to come home) but so far they haven't been successful," he said.

"I've said many times, I love this place and they're going to have to pry me out."

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